On May 26, 1941, during the meeting concerning the development of new weaponry, Adolf Hitler ordered both Dr.Porsche and Henschel to supply their designs for a heavy tank, which was to be ready in the summer of 1942. Krupp was in charge of supplying main armament and producing turrets for designs by both Henschel and Porsche. The project was known as the "Tigerprogram".

Henschel Tiger's development was based on previous designs of VK 3001 (H) and VK3601 (H) , while Porsche Tiger's development was based on previous design of VK 3001(P) Leopard. The new 45-ton panzer was to be armed with a 88mm KwK L/56 mounted in a turret designed by Krupp. Development of Porsche's Tiger was progressing much faster than that of Henschel since Porsche worked on an independent project for heavy tank since autumn of 1940. Henschel was not that advanced and utilized as many already available components from its previous projects to complete its VK 4501 design. Originally, Krupp designed the turret for Porsche's VK 4501 ,but then it was modified and used by Henschel's VK 4501. The first eight turrets produced had lower sides and a flat roof with raised centre section to allow the gun to be depressed through larger arc, while the rest had the higher sides and slanted roof.

In mid 1941, Henschel decided to build two prototypes - VK 4501(H) H1 and VK 4501(H) H2. Model H1 was to be armed with 88mm KwK 36 L/56 gun, mounted in modified Krupp's turret designed for VK4501(P).Model H2 was to be armed with 75mm KwK 42 L/70 (Rheinmetall) gun mounted in a newly designed turret (similar to that later used on Panther Ausf D1 and Ausf A) of which only wooden model was made. In late 1941, Henschel decided to concentrate on model H1 and continued its development and its prototype was ready on April 17th of 1942. The first Tiger by Henschel known as Versuchsserie Tiger Nr. V1 was the only one fitted with Vorpanzer (frontal armor shield) to protect front lower hull and tracks.

The first time Tiger saw action was on August 29th of 1942 and September 21st / 22nd at Mga, southeast of Leningrad with 1st company of sPzAbt 502. The unsuccessful engagements ended in the new Tiger being captured by the Soviets, who then examined it and exhibited during the captured equipment exhibition in Moscow's Gorky Park in 1943. The failure of Tigers was attributed to mechanical problems as well as poor terrain conditions, totally unsuitable for heavy tanks. In December of 1942, Tigers from sPzAbt 501, saw action near Tunis in North Africa.